Saddle-girth fastener



(NoModel.)

' .A. P. HARLAND.

SADDLE GIRTH .PASTENER.

No. 551,314. 'Patented Das. 10, 1895.

ANDREW l5! AnAnJuuTo-mawsmy nmlnc.

UNITED STATES PATENT Grauen.

ALLEN P. IIARLAND," OF FLORENCE, ALABAMA.

SADDLE-GIRTH FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,314, dated December10, 1895.

Application Sled March 12, 1895. Serial No. 541,402. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ALLEN I?. HARLAND, a citizen of the Unit'ed States,residing at Florence, in the county of Lauderdale and State of Alabama,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddle-GarthFasteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention relates to harness buckles or fasteners and moreparticularly to a saddlegirth fastener.

The object of the invention is to provide a fastener of this characterthat may be easily and quickly attached and detached; furthermore, toprovide a fastener which, when adjusted, will secure the desired tensionon the horse with the least possible outlay of strength on the part ofthe rider; and, finally, to provide a fastener which shall be simple andstrong of construction, durable lin use and comparatively inexpensive ofproduction.

lith these objects in view the invention consist-s in certain featuresof construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved fastener, showing' it attached to a fragment of thesaddle-strap with the loop at the end of the girth hung into the hook ofthe fastener. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating another step .in theact of fastening the girth. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the iinalstep of fastening the girth. Fig. i is a longitudinal vertical sectionalview of the fastener in its closed position.

In the drawings, l denotes a plate having at one end a hook 2 and withinclined side flanges S, which begin a slight distance from said hookand are provided with notches 3. A plate il. is hinged to the oppositeend of the plate l and is adapted to iit between the side flanges of theplate l and its end to spring under the hook when the parts are broughttogether. The plate 4 is provided on its face with a button 5, whichisadapted to be passed through one of the holes in the saddle-strap 6, bywhich the fastener is supported.

7 denotes the girth and 8 a loop having one of its ends secured thereto.

In fastening the girth around the horse, the

loop is dropped into the hook 2 ofthe plate l, as shown in Fig. l. Theplate is now swung upward into the position shown in Fig. 2, allowing inits upward movement the loop to ride over the inclined side flanges andfall into one set of notches. The particular set of notches in which theloop will fall will be determined by the horses size (girth)-that is tosay, should the animal be small, there would be more play to the girth,and the loop would fall into the set -of notches farther from the hinge,and vice versa. Now,by swinging the plate l up against the plate 4, asshown in Fig. 3, the proper adj ustment of the girth will be secured andthe hook will engage the free end of the plate 4 and serve to hold theparts closed.

In the present instance I have shown only two sets of notches7 but it isevident that more may be provided without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

A fastener constructed as above described is very simple and isautomatic in its adjustment. The notches, into which the loop falls,represent the size (girth) of the animal, and by moving the plate l intocontact with the plate 4 the desired tension of the girth-strap isobtained. The fastener can be operated with equal ease and rapidity withgloves on.

Although I have described my invention as applied to saddle-girths, Icontemplate its use in connection with other parts of harness, as wellas for other purposes, such, for instance, in connection withtrunlestraps. I therefore would have it distinctly understood that I donot wish to be restricted to its application to any particular form orparts of harness or straps, but reserve to myself the right to use thefastener wherever I may find it to be applicable.

Wrhat I claim, and desire to secure 4by Letters Patent, is

A fastener consisting of two plates hinged together, one plate havingnotched, inclined side flanges and a hook at its free end, the otherplate being shorter and adapted to be sprung under the hooked end andlie between the side flanges, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN P. kHARLAND. lVitnesses Jas. F. ROBINSON, B. P. LARRABEE.

IOO

